Aussies slam Welsh selection

Wales are being accused in Australia of treating the Wallabies 'with contempt' by resting 18 of their best players from the forthcoming Tests in Sydney and Brisbane.

Dan Crowley, a World Cup winner in Cardiff eight years ago, dismissed a largely reserve Wales squad as 'rubbish'.

"They should put their full team out and try to beat Australia," he said.

"Wouldn't that give them the best psychological advantage of all going into the World Cup?

"The way they've been playing, they're not going to have much hope of winning it anyway, so why this squad?

"I hope Australia put their best team out on to the paddock and flog them by a cricket score."

Glen Jackson, Saracens' uncapped New Zealand fly half, walked off last night with the English Premiership Players' Player of the Year award.

He topped a poll of the 550-strong Professional Rugby Players' Association ahead of another uncapped player, Bristol No 8 Dan Ward-Smith, along with Leicester's Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi.

Harlequins wing David Strettle won the Nick Duncombe Memorial Award as the young player of the year despite strong competition from four other young England players - Tom Rees, Toby Flood, Shane Geraghty and Anthony Allen.